Former UAE resident battles bizarre case of ‘identity theft’

In a shock. Zair Mohammad says the genuinity of a person must be verified during any transactions
Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: A bizarre case of “identity theft” has landed a former UAE resident in serious trouble. Pakistani Zair Mohammad claims copies of his Emirates ID are being brazenly used by unknown persons to rent cars and take loans in his name, even as he faces the legal implications.

Speaking to XPRESS from Peshawar on Sunday, the 36 year old said he received the shock of his life last January when he discovered the first legal case against him while he was in the process of getting his visa cancelled.

Mohammad, who first came to the UAE in 2005, said, “In September 2016, the last company where I worked as a driver asked me to look for a new job as it was shutting down. When I realised my job hunt was not getting me anywhere, I decided to return to Pakistan. But at the time of getting my visa cancelled, I realised I had a case filed against me by a Dubai car rental company from which I had supposedly rented a G55 Mercedes and defaulted on its payment.”

He said, “I am a poor fellow from a humble background. I have no clue how such a car was rented? But thankfully, the case was buried after two months when the car rental company confirmed that I was not the person whom they had leased the car to.”

Mohammad said he left for Pakistan after getting his visa cancelled on March 23.

Second shock

But as it turned out, he was in for more surprises. “I received the second shock in August this year when I was alerted to a fellow Pakistani’s social media post featuring my Emirates ID.

“I could immediately tell something was wrong again. When my family contacted this person, the man said he was looking for me as I had borrowed Dh27,000 from him and his brother after meeting with him in Dubai Airport three days earlier. How could I have been in Dubai when I have been staying here in Peshawar since March?” asked Mohammad.

Determined to put the record straight, Mohammad said he met the man in Peshawar. “Thankfully again, the man realised I was not the same person who had borrowed money from him.”

But Mohammad said his troubles were far from over.

“When I reported the matter to the police, believe it or not, I learnt I had two other car rental cases against me in Dubai. I can’t understand how this could have happened? Copies of my Emirates ID card, which carried an expiry date of “7/12/2017”,’ had been used again to rent cars. But shouldn’t the genuine credentials of a person be verified during a car rental or any other transaction?”

Mohammad said he shuddered to think what more would come his way in the two months left before the date on the card eexpires.

He said, “If anyone chances upon my Emirates ID No. 784-1981-5849572-5 being used, please don’t honour it as the visa against the card has been cancelled. Please contact the police.”

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